BharatiyaStories

  Vikram and Betaal – Story 6 We saw how King Vikramaditya (Vikram) went to the cremation ground at the instruction of a sage to get a dead body and found a ghost. It agreed to come on the condition that the king should not talk till he reached his destination. The ghost had been telling him stories and tricked him into talking by putting an interesting question. The ghost also threatened him saying he will die if he knew the answer and did not answer. Vikram had the problem of either knowing the answer and dying or opening his mouth and letting the ghost go. He chose to answer as obviously he had to live to do the sage’s bidding. Here goes yet another trip and yet another story. Bringing a dead lion alive Once in a village called Sabarvani, there lived a brahmin called Saranga. Saranga was not only learned but was well trained in many other aspects such as medicine, magic and tantra. Saranga had four sons – Madhava, Rishiskesha, Aditya and Rudra. As was the practice, Saranga...

The earth becomes Pruthvi There was a time when Mother Earth decided not to share her wealth with humans. She was angered at the misuse and arrogance of humans in using her resources. This resulted in famine, hunger and death. Sounds very familiar to what we hear now? Misuse of natural resources results in climate change, drought, floods and untimely rains. This story from the puranas highlights the need to treat Mother Earth with respect. The earth had no ruler after the death of the cruel ruler Vena. The Saptharishis realised something needs to be done as a land without a ruler will be the breeding ground of Arajaga or lawlessness. They used the power of their penance to generate a being from the right thigh of Vena. From that came a very evil looking person emerged. The sages realised that this person was evil and shouted Nishada Nishada. Nishada means sit. But the evil dwarf like creature ran out of the yagna shaala. With his exit all the evil from Vena’s body had left. The s...